WPMC tour of a mushroom farm and factory.  The factory produces mushroom spawn for sale to mushroom growers.  The farm grows test batches agaricus bisporus for quality control.  Sylvan is the world's largest producer of mushroom spawn.

We would like to thank Sylvan, Inc, Mark Spear, Rebecca Miller and Mark Begin for their graceous hospitality in showing us this state of the art facility.

To learn more about Sylvan Inc visit their website.

Mark Spear and Rebecca Miller on the immediate left with Mark Begin on the right in front of one of the signs in front of one of the three Sylvan buildings.

Mark Spear talking to us about the mushroom farm operation.

Observing test beds in Irish type mushroom huts.

Mushrooms are grown in these test beds for quality control. 

In the factory, the blender in front is revolving to mix the cooked rye and mycelium.

The medium, rye, is sterilized, cooked and blended with Agaricus bisporus in a huge blender.  When the process is finished the mixture is sent to a room where the bags are filled directly below.

Behind the window sterile bags are being filled with inoculated medium in a clean room that would surpass operating room standards.

Twenty-four members participated in this fascinating outing.

Here we see enough mushroom spawn to grow tens of thousands of pounds of mushrooms.

Spawn continuing to infiltrate the growing medium.  Each 20 pound bag of spawn can produce about 200 pounds of mushrooms!

Mushroom spawn packing area.  Here the bags of spawn are inspected then packed in boxes to be shipped out.

Mushroom spawn is packed and put in a large cooler ready to be shipped to mushroom growers.

EAT YOUR HEART OUT!

Mark, Rebecca, Mark and Sylvan, gave everyone a Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom kit to take home to grow their own oyster mushrooms.

The oyster mushroom kit on Thursday, 5 days after visiting Sylvan.

July 9 - bag of developing mushrooms.

July 9 - Oyster mushrooms are ready to eat!  Yum, yum!